Unique Low

Impact Expeditions Since 1999

Mammals
on Parade in Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok never ceases to amaze us. In our previous
newsletter, we featured a story about the two very rare
Malayan Tapirs we had the privilege of viewing. We've spent
a lot of time recently in Khao Sok and as usual, it paid off
with other uncommon sightings.

Stump-tail Macaques

Stump-tail Macaques are infrequently
spotted in the park. We had the pleasure of two separate
encounters, each special in its own fashion. The first was
in a region of the reservoir which we had only just started
visiting. While paddling along one of the many massive
limestone karst cliffs, we noticed something rustling in the
thick vegetation. Binoculars came out and started focusing.
An unusually colored monkey was spotted. Its body hair was
sort of orange tinted. The thing that really stood out was
its two large red skin patches surrounding its eyes. The
monkey starred back at us too. Then, it let out a bizarre
scream. We all looked at each other in amazement as the
hairy orange primate climbed slowly up the cliff, stopping
occasionally to yell at us.

The crack of dawn is a very special time
to be on the water. From our floating bungalow camp, the sun
crept gently over the jagged limestone cliffs. Across the
wide expanse of the placid reservoir, the light spreads and
the sounds of the jungle commence. White-hand Gibbons howl
and shriek from the tallest trees. A lone Helmeted Hornbill
initiates its comical call.

Yellow-throated Martens

One morning, we came across a pair of Yellow-throated
Martens. There was a slight coloration difference
between the pair, indicating that one was male and the other
female. Their attention was fully occupied with something
inside a long section of bamboo resting on the shoreline.
These nimble creatures ran back and forth, up and down,
swing between the right side up and upside down… and with
the absolute greatest of ease. They pulled and bit at the
bamboo. They seemed quite unconcerned about our presence. It
was quite a show and something that none of us had seen
before.

White-hand Gibbons

On another morning excursion, we were
enthralled with a family of White-Handed Gibbons
dangling from the upper canopy. One had a very young baby
clinging to her chest. Even though gibbons are an endangered
species, we saw some each day. They are actually fairly
common in Khao Sok National Park.

Paddling
a bit further on, we saw a troop of Stump-tailed
Macaques on the far shore. When we first spotted
them, the majority of them were scampering up the shore.
Their rear ends were so wide that we thought we were looking
at wild pigs. Soon, they started making their unusual calls.
One big male stayed in view in what appeared to be direct
defiance to our approach. His eyebrows raised and his ears
went back. This is their sign to keep your distance. We
obeyed.

Wild Pigs

Speaking of wild pigs, we also saw a pair
of them a couple days earlier. Wild pigs are abundant in the
park, though not often seen. The water in the reservoir is
very low this year as we're having a bit of a drought. This
makes wildlife viewing a bit easier as the herbivores come
out to chew on the thick grass that blankets the shoreline.

Serow

One afternoon, while paddling in a new
cove, Zae and one of our guests paddled ahead of me. I was
busy looking for our feathery friends as usual. I rounded a
rocky point and saw Zae motioning almost frantically to me.
I soon realized why. There was a huge male Serow
standing proudly on a rock crag. Our guest had his camera
and Zae had pleaded with him to get it out, but he was
afraid that his motion would scare the Serow away. If I had
had a camera, it would have been one of those
once-in-a-lifetime shots… a two-person kayak in the
foreground with a rare Serow just beyond and above them.
That's it; it's time to go into debt again. I must have a
camera and it might as well be a nice digital model.

Barking Deer

A few minutes later, in a patch of
elephant ear plants, we spotted a large Barking
Deer. Her colors were bright and sharp in the
midday sun. She slowly moved away, glancing over her
shoulder from time to time, making sure we were friendly.

So, our mammal list for Khao Sok on these
recent series of trips include a pair of Yellow-throated
Martens, Stump-tail Macaques, a Serow, a Barking Deer,
White-hand Gibbons, Wild Pigs, Dusky Langurs, Long-tail
Macaques, and Pig-tail Macaques. We can't wait to get back.

Eco awareness news

Do you like the smell of sandalwood? As
sandalwood is becoming more and more scarce due to its
popularity, sandalwood poachers are starting to encroach on
national parks. Khao Yai National Park in northern Thailand
is a popular target as its vastness makes it difficult for
park officials to patrol effectively.

As with almost all poaching problems, be they plant or
animal, the root cause is demand. Without the demand, there
is no need for a supply. It's basic economics. If you are
concerned about your impact on the ever-decreasing natural
resources, please do a bit of research before buying.